5 terrorists killed in Egypt's Sinai

CAIRO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Five terrorists were killed in the early hours of Saturday by the army in a security operation in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, official news agency MENA cited a security source as saying.

"Five were killed on Saturday early hours, in a wide scale security operation by the armed forces to wipe out the criminals points, raising the death toll of the terrorists killed since June 30 to 37, while other 42 were critically injured," the source added.

Earlier MENA said unidentified gunmen have opened fire at a security checkpoint in Arish in North Sinai. Police exchanged fire with the gunmen, no injuries reported.

Security sources said the masked gunmen were traveling in a SUV started firing randomly at troops deployed outside Arish airport.

Last week, at least five soldiers were killed in North Sinai in armed attacks by extremist Islamist groups in Arish International Airport, a security camp in Rafah, a police station and two security checkpoints in Sheikh Zuwaid and other security premises.

The attack came after the Egyptian army ousted President Mohamed Morsi on July 3 in response to millions of protesters who demanded his removal due to his "maladministration" since he came to power a year ago. However, supporters of the Islamist-oriented president condemned the move as "a military coup" and vowed to sacrifice for Morsi's legitimacy.